A study carried out by scientists from the Canadian University of Laval has shown that the application of a low-intensity electric current might accelerate the healing of skin wounds, such as foot ulcers, from which some diabetics suffer during lab experiments, researchers found that electricity has a positive effect on the proliferation and migration of normal fibroblasts, cells that play an important role in the early stages of the healing process, according to the results of this study, including findings are published in the “Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine”.
“Our goal is to help these patients who have open ulcers and who cannot heal,” summarized Professor Rouabhia, from the Faculty of Medicine of Laval, quoted by the Canadian press.
By comparing fibroblasts taken from healthy subjects with fibroblasts taken from diabetic subjects who had had their feet amputated, the researchers found that an electric current of 20 or 40 millivolts/mm had no effect on healthy cells. On the other hand, it seemed to promote the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts in diabetic subjects. The level of a marker of fibroblast proliferation, the protein Ki-67, was three times higher when the cells were subjected to electrical stimulation. In addition, a tear performed on the cell culture closed twice as quickly under electrical stimulation, specify the researchers who admit not to understand why cells from diabetics react better than cells from healthy donors. It is estimated that regarding 15% of people with diabetes will suffer from a foot ulcer in their lifetime. This problem is characterized by skin lesions that heal poorly and it risks leading to infections that can lead to amputation.
